Former major league pitcher Geremi Gonzalez, who won 11 games for the Chicago Cubs in 1997, was killed by a lightning strike in his native Venezuela on Sunday.

Gonzalez, 33, pitched for five major league teams, including the Milwaukee Brewers, from 1997-06. The right-hander appeared in 131 games with 83 starts, compiling a 30-35 record.  He also played for the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox and New York Mets.

Milwaukee obtained Gonzalez from the Mets in 2006 in exchange for pitcher Mike Adams. Gonzalez was 4-2 with a 5.14 ERA with the Brewers.

"He was so much fun to be around. He was always happy, always smiling," Milwaukee Brewers manager Ned Yost told the Associated Press. "He was a guy that could scare real easy and then horse laugh. He was just one of those guys that when he saw you, he always had a smile on his face."

The Toronto Blue Jays released Gonzalez during spring training last year. He then moved to Japan and pitched in five games for the Yomiuri Giants.